The House just voted to protect medical marijuana patients from federal interference

Congressman John Mica holds up a fake joint in a hearing about the District of Columbia’s marijuana decriminalization law.

The US House of Representatives late Thursday passed a measure that would prohibit the federal government from interfering with states’ medical marijuana laws.

The bill is the first time in history that any chamber of Congress has acted to protect medical marijuana businesses and users. It also got bipartisan support: 170 Democrats and 49 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.